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ARL Commission chair Peter Beattie has spoken of his hope that common sense will prevail as rugby league’s international superpowers head towards a showdown that could culminate in the formation of a breakaway Test program.
Beattie and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg will attend a Rugby League International Federation meeting in Singapore this weekend amid growing concern over a push for governance reform that would result in three independents joining the board, among them Beattie’s predecessor John Grant.
The power of Australia, England and New Zealand would be diluted under the new structure, leaving them initially with as few as five out of 11 positions. The board would eventually be increased to 13 members when North America and Africa are in position to wield influence.
Grant is currently on the board as a representative of the ARL Commission, having retained the role when he stepped down from his domestic position. While he has been urged to defer a vote on governance reform by the commission and its clubs, Grant is yet to outline his position.
If reform prevails, there are some who believe Australia, New Zealand and England should withdraw from the RLIF and begin scheduling their own Test matches.
Beattie is hopeful it won’t come to that, having spent recent days attempting to resolve an impasse that threatens international rugby league.
“I am going to the meeting with Todd and we will go there with as much goodwill as we can muster,” Beattie told The Australian.
“We want to have an international organisation that can deliver an international game because international football is the future.
“But we need to get some common sense and agreement around this. People need to be fully aware of what is proposed and people need to be consulted and involved in the process because if they aren’t, you’re going to have people feeling left out.”
Grant flew to Singapore yesterday but it is understood he is bemused by the imbroglio given reform of the RLIF has been on the agenda for some time, having been discussed at meetings attended previously by Greenberg.
Adding more intrigue to the situation is that despite Grant being on the board as a representative of the commission, corporations law dictates he must act in the best interests of the RLIF.
Grant appears to believe that adding independent directors to the RLIF is in the best interests of the international game, although there are many who believe he is acting out of self-interest.
His tenure as the commission representative ends later this year, but he has been earmarked to become one of the independents should governance reform get the green light.
Grant and New Zealand Rugby League representative John Bishop were initially on a five-man subcommittee set up to explore reform, but took a step back, whereupon the subcommittee chose the pair to fill two of the three independent positions.
The issue threatens to divide the game at international level with the fate of reform — and therefore the power of Australia, England and New Zealand — potentially lying in the hands of fringe members of the RLIF.
To block reform the major nations may be forced to rely on the support of minnows — the 10-person international board includes Samoa’s Tagaloa Fa’afouina Su’a and the Cook Islands’ Charles Carlson among its members.
As it stands, the RLIF board has 10 members, of which Australia, New Zealand and England have two apiece. Under the revised plan, the RLIF would change to an 11-man body, later to grow to 13.
The spat over governance is likely to overshadow Australia’s push for a four-year international window, which was recently outlined by Beattie and Greenberg. The proposal was to be tabled this weekend but may have to take a back seat as international politics dominate the agenda.
Clubs in both Australia and England have taken a prominent role in the matter, cognisant that along with New Zealand they provide the large majority of players to the international game.
Furthermore, the RLIF relies on fees and profits from Tests to fill their own coffers, meaning the potential for a breakaway competition would put enormous pressure on their finances.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...k=6e6f10bc71759bdff091a589bc745991-1532574956
~~~~~
Posted from my mobile, sorry if there are formatting issues.
Beattie and NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg will attend a Rugby League International Federation meeting in Singapore this weekend amid growing concern over a push for governance reform that would result in three independents joining the board, among them Beattie’s predecessor John Grant.
The power of Australia, England and New Zealand would be diluted under the new structure, leaving them initially with as few as five out of 11 positions. The board would eventually be increased to 13 members when North America and Africa are in position to wield influence.
Grant is currently on the board as a representative of the ARL Commission, having retained the role when he stepped down from his domestic position. While he has been urged to defer a vote on governance reform by the commission and its clubs, Grant is yet to outline his position.
If reform prevails, there are some who believe Australia, New Zealand and England should withdraw from the RLIF and begin scheduling their own Test matches.
Beattie is hopeful it won’t come to that, having spent recent days attempting to resolve an impasse that threatens international rugby league.
“I am going to the meeting with Todd and we will go there with as much goodwill as we can muster,” Beattie told The Australian.
“We want to have an international organisation that can deliver an international game because international football is the future.
“But we need to get some common sense and agreement around this. People need to be fully aware of what is proposed and people need to be consulted and involved in the process because if they aren’t, you’re going to have people feeling left out.”
Grant flew to Singapore yesterday but it is understood he is bemused by the imbroglio given reform of the RLIF has been on the agenda for some time, having been discussed at meetings attended previously by Greenberg.
Adding more intrigue to the situation is that despite Grant being on the board as a representative of the commission, corporations law dictates he must act in the best interests of the RLIF.
Grant appears to believe that adding independent directors to the RLIF is in the best interests of the international game, although there are many who believe he is acting out of self-interest.
His tenure as the commission representative ends later this year, but he has been earmarked to become one of the independents should governance reform get the green light.
Grant and New Zealand Rugby League representative John Bishop were initially on a five-man subcommittee set up to explore reform, but took a step back, whereupon the subcommittee chose the pair to fill two of the three independent positions.
The issue threatens to divide the game at international level with the fate of reform — and therefore the power of Australia, England and New Zealand — potentially lying in the hands of fringe members of the RLIF.
To block reform the major nations may be forced to rely on the support of minnows — the 10-person international board includes Samoa’s Tagaloa Fa’afouina Su’a and the Cook Islands’ Charles Carlson among its members.
As it stands, the RLIF board has 10 members, of which Australia, New Zealand and England have two apiece. Under the revised plan, the RLIF would change to an 11-man body, later to grow to 13.
The spat over governance is likely to overshadow Australia’s push for a four-year international window, which was recently outlined by Beattie and Greenberg. The proposal was to be tabled this weekend but may have to take a back seat as international politics dominate the agenda.
Clubs in both Australia and England have taken a prominent role in the matter, cognisant that along with New Zealand they provide the large majority of players to the international game.
Furthermore, the RLIF relies on fees and profits from Tests to fill their own coffers, meaning the potential for a breakaway competition would put enormous pressure on their finances.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sp...k=6e6f10bc71759bdff091a589bc745991-1532574956
~~~~~
Posted from my mobile, sorry if there are formatting issues.
